Feast of Our Lady of the Rosary, October 7

Pope St. Pius V, pictured above, established this great feast, first as Our Lady of Victory, to commemorate the Battle of Lepanto (October 7, 1571), in which the Catholic fleet under the hero Don John of Austria defeated a huge Turkish fleet that intended to conquer and literally enslave Italy and advance from there.

The Pope had asked all Christendom to pray the Rosary for victory; and on the day of the battle, he received a vision that told him of the victory.

May we always entrust our causes and our cares to Mary, and may we always pray the Holy Rosary in love, gratitude, confidence and reparation.


"The celebration of this day invites all to mediate upon the mysteries of Christ, following the example of the Blessed Virgin Mary who was so singularly associated with the incarnation, passion and glorious resurrection of the Son of God." -- from the Christian Prayer (Liturgy of the Hours)

If you've never read it before and you want to know the true knightly spirit of Christendom, be sure to read the greatest poem that G.K. Chesteron ever wrote, "Lepanto." You can see it at: http://www.bartleby.com/103/91.html

(The illustration above is from the website of the wonderful Nashville Dominicans -- the Dominican Sisters of St. Cecilia Congregation.)